Zen Perspectives on Failure and Flow

Fellow passionate minds,

‘Tis the season for reflection. I’ve been meaning to have this conversation with you, as someone who’s navigated similar waters in the captivating world of investing. Contexts may differ, but the inner emotions we grapple with often align: chaos, rejections, or those moments of feeling utterly lost. And it is important to interpret and process them with clarity. And have an overall deeper perspective in shaping our career trajectories.

Mine has been a rigorous journey through the school of hard knocks. Life dealt me recurring blows The Lehman brothers crisis, the MCX/NSEL crisis, the covid pandemic, some of the drastic economic events to name a few. And over a decade, I lived in survival mode.

In the last five years, though, I’ve been through what hindsight reveals as a profound journey of self-discovery. Life thrust me into hermit mode – meditation, introspection, near-rebirth – and I uncovered universal truths. From experience, rooting in them dramatically boosts success and fulfilment.

In that vein, here are a few findings to open new horizons for us, individually and collectively.

Comparison stems from an externally wired mindset

As an early millennial in India’s financial services, I’ve witnessed a world that scorns “failure.” Our society clings to an age-old narrative: success proves smarts; failure proves inadequacy. We use comparison as our flawed gauge of performance.

If a picture speaks a thousand words, a meme speaks a million. “Sharma ji ka beta” stays viral across versions because it mirrors our societal wiring. That of living a life entirely focused on the outside.

(Source : X.com)

Should we say Akshaye Khanna falls short because he’s not an SRK? Or Daniel Day-Lewis because he’s not Tom Cruise? It sounds ridiculous – yet this is the discourse in public life and our own minds.

Social media amplifies it, letting comparison creep in subconsciously and trigger self-harm. Blanket comparison – by ourselves or others is flawed from first principles. It’s light-years from Truth. And it is a disservice to our potential.

It is time for a nuanced view: We’re all on unique journeys, starting with different attributes, navigating distinct paths, and chasing personal goals. It is important to be cognizant of these facts rather than having unconscious comparisons take over us.

When you truly focus on your personal development, comparison with the external gradually fades. And you’re on the path to only benchmarking with your prior self. You realise the ‘personal’ of it.

So, what’s the informed way to view failure?

You’re invincible – (not just motivationally speaking)

Two facts to rewire your outlook:

Failures are troughs

We’ve all heard, “All defeat is psychological until death.” Why? Because defeats are just troughs in our evolutionary journey. They pull us down, emotionally and mentally – sometimes for weeks, months, or years – but they’re life’s feedback mechanism. Rising even after receiving the nth blow is inevitable, unless you’re physically gone. After a period, Mental and emotional fatigue eventually fades. And our deeper essence beyond psychology – ‘consciousness’ takes over. It reignites your “why.” This explains why battered souls keep rising. Knowing it helps to ward off hopelessness.

Think of Nelson Mandela, whose purpose survived 27 years of imprisonment; Abraham Lincoln, who overcame repeated electoral defeats and severe depressions to lead through civil war; or Jack Ma, rejected 30+ times yet building Alibaba’s $500B empire via inner resolve – something in them simply would not let them stay down.

Failures are feedback loops.

When something doesn’t advance you (in knowledge or gain), it is important to dissect it for its causes. Was it caused by exogenous or endogenous factors? Either way, life urges introspection. And it is to refine our self-understanding or our approach. The deeper the meditation and resolution, the greater the clarity we emerge with. And Clarity is the single most important bridge from feedback to fortune.

Live life ‘inside-out’ to embrace your uniqueness

Living ‘inside-out’ means starting from inner truth, not external pressures. It flips the script: instead of moulding to the world’s expectations, you build outward from self-awareness, authenticity, and aligned action. Outer success flows naturally when your path honours your core wiring – values, strengths, rhythms – rather than chasing borrowed scripts.

Only then can we live our uniqueness.

Take Akshaye Khanna’s notable 4–5-year hiatus (2012–2016) after flops. He was dejected with the shallow roles he was receiving. The industry’s playbook required him to chase limelight, attend parties et al to be able to find work. He refused to alter himself, for the sake of the industry’s playbook. He chose hiatus and reflection instead. On return, he pivoted to powerful character roles, delivering 2025 “bangers” like Chhaava and Dhurandhar. Audiences now adore him more, over a younger, better-looking protagonist – as the “actor’s actor” comeback king, even playing a terrorist. This isn’t arbitrary. He wouldn’t have been here on someone else’s (SRK’s) playbook (that of lead protagonist) or personal ambitions (maximise wealth). Akshaye is shining because he’s true to his inner being.

Daniel Day-Lewis, too, defied norms with extended hiatuses for family and indulging in crafts like shoemaking and woodworking. He prioritized life over grind. And won three Oscars. The highest in those categories.

We’re not here to be the next Shah Rukh Khans or Tom Cruises. Without the likes of Akshaye or Daniel, cinema would flatline.

My own journey has been far from linear. I had passed the first level of CFA back in 2007 and could take up the second and third level only a decade later. Just like Akshaye Khanna, my life too forced me into a sabbatical. The good thing? It ended up being a journey of self-discovery. I too spent around five years, rebuilding my life from new-found clarity. And life began rewarding!

Universal truths hold for everyone. Whether one is into cinema or investment management.

We’re here to be ourselves. With our own playbook. Our own timeline. To walk our own path. Root deeply in your uniqueness, bring it forth, and unlock full potential.

The foundation? Know yourself. Be yourself. That’s the recipe.

About the Author

Jolly is a financial services professional, who enjoys creating and building products. She has an experience of over a decade in the areas of product development and marketing, spanning diverse asset classes. Jolly has been instrumental in introducing new debt products, while working at Bombay Stock Exchange. Prior to BSE, she worked in client engagement roles, advising corporates as well as high net worth individuals.

Lately she has poured her passion into starting the CFA Society India podcast. She also moderates episodes on international public and private market themes. She is a futurist and writes on ideas that will actively define newer thinking. Jolly is a CFA charter holder and volunteers as a co-chair, Public Awareness Committee.